Tuesday, May 1
Los Angeles, CA
7:30 PM
UCLA
25-7
3
vs
1
Harvard
13-14
1
2
3
4
F
Harvard
25
21
11
21
1
UCLA
23
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
MVB Advances to NCAA Semifinals
May 01, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
The UCLA men's volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second time in three seasons after posting a four-set win over Harvard on Tuesday night in Pauley Pavilion. Scores of the NCAA Opening Round match were 23-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-21. It was UCLA's 18th home win of the season against just one loss.
Seniorย Christian Hessenauerย topped UCLA with a career-high tying 22 kills (.381) and six block assists as he compiled a career-best 26.0 points. Middle blockersย Oliver Martinย (9-0-9 1.000) andย Daenan Gyimahย (11-1-20 .500) added five and six block assists, respectively. It was the ninth straight match in which Gyimah had registered a hitting percentage of at least .500.ย Micah Ma'aย set the team to a .390 hitting percentage and recorded an ace for the 10th straight match.ย Jake Arnitzย finished with 11 kills and hit .304.
ย
In set one, Harvard separated first, utilizing a 0-3 run to establish a 9-12 lead. UCLA used the serve of Dylan Missry to begin to battle back. A pair of kills by Arnitz tied the score at 19-all and then put the Bruins up 20-19. The Crimson came right back with the next three points for a 20-22 advantage. A Hessenauer kill closed the gap to 21-22, but Harvard scored two of the next three to move to set point. Another kill by Hessenauer saved one set point at 23-24, but a Bruin service error handed the Crimson the win. Harvard hit .348 in the set with 3.5 total blocks. UCLA had seven service errors and six attack errors in the frame.
ย
UCLA went down 3-5 to begin set two before a Martin kill tied the score at 6-all. A block by Ma'a pushed UCLA in front 14-12, but Harvard came back to move in front 15-16. A Hessenauer kill evened the score at 16-each and ignited a 5-0 Bruin run. Gyimah's swing put UCLA ahead 20-16 and the Bruins went on to capture the set at 25-21. The Bruins outhit the Crimson .323 to .105 for the set.
ย
In set three, UCLA rolled to a 5-0 start. The Bruin block came alive and a wall by Hessenauer / Gyimah made it 8-3. A kill by Oliver lifted the Bruins into a 12-5 edge. A Hessenauer swing made it 17-8. Blocks by Missry / Martin, Martin / Hessenauer and again by Martin / Hessenauer handed the Bruins their final three points in the set for a 25-11 win. UCLA hit .409 with 6.0 total team blocks.
ย
UCLA opened up a 4-1 lead to begin set four. Harvard came back to even the score at 7-all. Hessenauer and Arnitz went back-to-back with kills for a 9-7 Bruin advantage. Harvard closed to one at 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15 before a kill by Ma'a sparked a spurt which put UCLA in front 18-15. After Harvard closed to 20-18, Hessenauer answered with a kill. Missry added a spike for a 24-20 margin and Martin delivered the final kill for a 25-21 win. Hessenauer tallied eight kills in the set.
UCLA, now 25-7 on the year, will play next on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in Semifinal Two against No. 2 seed BYU (22-6). In the other NCAA men's volleyball semifinal match, two-time defending national champion Ohio State, which survived a five-set match against UC Irvine, advanced to play top-seeded Long Beach State in Semifinal One on Thursday which begins at 5 p.m. in Pauley.
Team Stats
HARV
UCLA
Kills
35
62
Errors
19
16
Attempts
97
118
Hitting %
.165
.390
Points
44.0
80.0
Assists
34
55
Aces
2
5
Blocks
7.0
13.0
Game Leaders
Kills
22
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
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